2 Corinthians 4

¹ Therefore, having this dispensation, according as we were shown mercy, we are not despondent. ² But we spurn the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor yet adulterating the word of God, but, by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in God's sight. ³ Now, if our evangel is covered, also, it is covered in those who are perishing, ⁴ in whom the god of this eon blinds the apprehensions of the unbelieving so that the illumination of the evangel of the glory of Christ, Who is the Image of the invisible God, does not irradiate them. ⁵ For we are not heralding ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, yet ourselves your slaves because of Jesus, ⁶ for the God Who says that, out of darkness light shall be shining, is He Who shines in our hearts, with a view to the illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ⁷ Now we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the transcendence of the power may be of God and not of us. ⁸ In everything, being afflicted, but not distressed; perplexed, but not despairing; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not perishing - ¹⁰ always carrying about in the body the deadening of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body. ¹¹ For we who are living are ever being given up to death because of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹² So that death is operating in us, yet life in you. ¹³ Now having the same spirit of faith, in accord with what is written, "I believe, wherefore I speak also", we also are believing, wherefore we are speaking also, ¹⁴ being aware that He Who rouses the Lord Jesus will be rousing us also, through Jesus, and will be presenting us together with you. ¹⁵ For all is because of you, that the grace, increasing through the majority, should be superabounding in thanksgiving to the glory of God. ¹⁶ Wherefore we are not despondent, but even if our outward man is decaying, nevertheless that within us is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For the momentary lightness of our affliction is producing for us a transcendently transcendent eonian burden of glory, ¹⁸ at our not noting what is being observed, but what is not being observed, for what is being observed is temporary, yet what is not being observed is eonian.